AILIF Program

Ten of India's most acclaimed regional writers and two major publishers travel to Australia to participate in a high calibre literary forum organised by the Writing and Society Research Centre of Western Sydney University. This is one of the largest India-Australia literary exchanges held between
our two countries.

Event Overview

The Australia-India Literatures International Forum (AILIF) is an initiative to foster literary ties between India and Australia in an area that has not received adequate attention in either of their creative-cultural imaginaries.

While Indian Writing in English has a spectacular global presence, what is often not known in international circles is that India has 22 official languages, of which at least a dozen have flourishing and independent literary traditions. Some of these literary cultures date back two-centuries, testifying
to the extraordinary linguistic diversity within the region.

Similarly the depth of Australian literature is under-appreciated in India. While it has a significant presence in the English departments of Indian universities, it has not yet penetrated the sizeable regional language markets. The hidden gems of Australian Indigenous and Indo-Australian writing,
derived from traditions other than the European, are especially unknown in the subcontinent.

AILIF brings together writers from the regional languages of India with Australian Indigenous and Indo-Australian writers, to generate interest in their respective traditions and enable close interaction and collaboration between them.

This event seeks to promote inter-lingual ideas and enable high quality translations between these literatures, thereby rejuvenating the field of world literature. It contributes significantly and strategically to the idea of Australia and India being multicultural sister societies with vital, vibrant
literatures that enable socio-cultural understanding and community cohesion.

Acknowledgements

AILIF is supported by the Commonwealth through the Australia-India Council, which is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

AILIF has been supported by the Cultural Fund of the Copyright Agency Limited and the Australia India Institute.

AILIF has received in-kind support from the State Library of NSW and the Taj Foundation.